Strip metal highway guard



- Nov. 10, 1936.

H. .L/ HlcK STRIP METAL HIGHWAY GUARD lFiled Sept. 27, 1934 l elf 14 Fig/QZ] Patented Nov. l0, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRIP METAL HIGHWAY GUARD Application September 27, 1934, Serial No. 745,737

4 Claims.

My invention relates to guard apparatus particularly adapted for use along one or more sides of a highway, which may be the traiiic bearing surface or lane of a road, vehicular bridge, or the like, for preventing vehicles, particularly passenger automobiles, busses and motor trucks from running off the highway by skidding, by making too rapid a turn, by bein-g struck by another vehicle, or the like.

Highway guards have come into use which may be termed strip, sheet, or plate metal highway guards, and which generally include long strips of relatively thin metal which are mounted usually by resilient means on posts located along the side of the highway.

Usual strip, sheet, or plate metal highway guards require special mounting means for securing the same on the posts, such mounting means usually being resilient, for providing a resilient action of the guard at the post.

Usual strip sheet, or plate metal highway guards consists of merely flat strip, sheet, or plate members usually secured by resilient means to the posts, and the action of such usual flat strip, sheet, or plate metal highway guards when struck by a vehicle is such as to damage the vehicle by the direct impact, or by becoming entangled with the vehicle, or by causing the car to climb over the guard.

The maintenance of usual strip, sheet, or plate metal highway guards is relatively expensive, because the same are usually made of low carbon sheet steel which is easily damaged by impact and also because of the requirement usually of special resilient mounting means on the posts, which become easily damaged by impact.

The objects of the present improvements include the provision of an improved strip, sheet, or plate metal highway guard which in general overcomes the aforesaid difficulties of usual strip, sheet, or plate metal highway guards, and which has particular objects as follows:

First, to provide a strip, sheet, or plate metal highway guard which is inherently strong, inherently resilient regardlessI of its mounting means, and which is inherently resistant to rust;

Second, to provide a sheet, strip, or plate metal resilient highway guard which may be directly secured to the usual posts at the side of a high- Way;

Third, to provide such a highway guard, the maintenance of which may be effected at a reduced cost. 1

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the improvements, apparatus', parts, combinaitions, and sub-combinations which comprise the present invention, and the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, and preferred embodiments of which, together with their mode of use, are set forth in the following description, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improved guard apparatus of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including'a foundation at one side of a highway, a plurality of longitudinally spaced post members, each post member being carried by and extending upwardly above the foundation and above the upper surface of the highway, one or more elongated spring trough members extending longitudinally with respect to the post members, and means slidably securing the spring trough members to some of the post members.

Each spring trough member is preferably in the form of an elongated, formed, anti-corrosion, spring steel plate, having a central longitudinally extending flat portion and longitudinally extending transversely curved ribs at each side of the flat portion.

The curved ribs at each side of the longitudinally extending flat portion form a longitudinally extending trough of substantial width opening towards the highway, and the width of the trough and the elevation thereof above the highway being such as to accommodate with clearance the hubs of automobile Wheels, so that the pneumatic tire on an impinging wheel frictionally strikes the curved ribs at opposite sides of the axle ofthe wheel.

The flat portion is preferably providedwith slots adjacent each end thereof for slidably connecting the trough member to the post members.

The improved spring trough plate guard apparatus furthermore preferably includes improvements in the construction, arrangement, and cooperative association of certain parts as are hereinafter set forth, and/ or hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Preferred embodiments of the improved apparatus and of the parts thereof are illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation view of one embodiment of the improved spring trough plate guard apparatus;

Fig. 2, an enlarged transverse sectional view thereof as on line 2 2, Fig. 1, with portions broken away and shown in section to illustrate details of construction and arrangement;

Fig. 3, an elevation view of one of the preferred spring trough plates before assembly with the post members to make the complete apparatus;

Fig. 4, an end elevation view thereof; and

Fig. 5, a perspective View illustrating another embodiment of the improved spring trough plate guard apparatus in use at one side of a highway, the forward end of an automobile being shown just as the right front Wheel of the automobile has struck the spring trough plate.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

The embodiment of the improved spring trough plate guard apparatus illustrated in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, is indicated generally by IIJ and is installed at one side of a highway II.

The spring trough plate guard apparatus I includes a foundation I 2 which as illustrated is constituted by the earth at the side of the highway II.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced posts I3 have their lower ends I4 embedded and secured in the earth foundation I2, and the posts I3 extend upwardly from the earth foundation I2 and above the upper surface of the highway I I.

The improved guard apparatus Il] furthermore includes one or more elongated spring trough plate members each indicated by I5, each of which extends longitudinally with respect to the post members I 3, and each of which is slidably secured to some of the post members I3.

In the preferred form of the invention as illustrated, each spring trough plate member I5 extends at one side of two adjacent post members I3, and adjacent ends of the trough members I5 overlap each other as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Each spring trough plate member I5 preferably includes a longitudinally extending central fiat portion I6, and at each side of the longitudinally extending fiat portion I6 there is provided a longitudinally extending transversely curved rib I'I between the inner side faces of which a trough I8 is formed as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The outer edges I9 of the curved ribs I'I lie preferably in a plane spaced at one side of the flat portion I6 so that the ribs I'I may spring deflect when struck by a Vehicle and not impinge against the supporting posts.

Each spring trough plate I5 as illustrated is preferably provided with elongated slots 2B at each end thereof, and each post member I3 is provided with a plurality of bolt shank bores 2|, and the trough plate members are slidably secured to the post members I3 by bolt and nut means 22, the shanks of the bolts of which extend through the trough plate slots 20 and the bolt shank bores 2 I.

The material used to make the trough plates I 5 is preferably anti-corrosive, spring steel, sheets, strips or plates. rlhe trough formation provides an inherently strong resilient construction, and I5 gauge strip sheets or plates may be satisfactorily used for making the improved trough plates The anti-corrosive steel may be copper bearing steel, and for attaining the desired inherent resilience or spring in the trough members I5, .30 to .40 carbon steel is satisfactory.

Accordingly the improved spring trough plate members I5 properly slidably secured to the post members I3 as above set forth, are in themselves spring resistant to collision and do not require special resilient mounting means for securing the trough members I5 to the post members I3.

The two trough forming curved ribs or rolls I'I apply frictional resistance to the tire of a wheel striking the same at two points which are preferably on opposite sides of the axle of the Wheel, and the trough I8 is preferably spaced so as to accommodate the hub of the striking Wheel and thus prevent the wheel from jumping up and over the struck spring trough plate member I5.

The above described construction and arrangement of the improved spring plate trough guard apparatus is very simple. The use of the slot and bolt connecting means allows for variation where the foundation is not level and for slight variations in the location of the posts, and expansion and contraction due to heat and cold.

The trough plate guard members I5 may also be applied to round posts as well as the square posts illustrated.

Spacing the edges I9 of the curved ribs or rolls I'I from the flat portion I5 permits springing of the members I5 not only between the post members I3 but at the post members I3.

The maintenance cost of the present improved spring trough plate guard apparatus is exceedingly low because bent or twisted spring trough plate members I5 may be easily replaced.

The improved spring trough plate members I5 may be as aforesaid made of I6 gauge spring steel and are relatively light to handle, but by virtue of the double rib or roll construction thereof, each plate is stronger than at plate guard members of substantially twice the thickness.

The particular roll trough conformation of the members I5 causes minimum damage to an automobile when striking the members I5 at usual angles, because the adjacent front fender will generally clear the upper ribs or rolls of the impinged guard plate I5 and the adjacent end of the bumper will be the rst part of the automobile to contact the trough member I5, the rubber tire on the adjacent front Wheel being the second part to contact the trough plate member I5, and both of which contacting parts tend to absorb the shock and deflect the automobile back onto the highway without the automobile climbing over the trough guard plate member I5, the bumper end and the wheel hub cap being caught between the ribs or rolls I9.

The trough I8 also provides some protection for the running board of an impinging automobile.

Also, because of the inherent strength of the spring trough plates I5, there is little likelihood of a striking automobile becoming entangled with the guard plate members I5.

The roll trough conformation of the plate members I5 permits a greater width for the members, which may be I6 inches, than is practically possible when flat plates are used, the usual width of which is 12 inches.

Accordingly with the wider spring plates, the visibility of the guard is increased.

Moreover, while the improved guard apparatus I0 has a sufficient resilience or spring, it does not have the excessive resilience or spring characteristic of fiat spring plate guards which throw a striking vehicle too far and back into other traffic.

In the embodiment III) of the improved guard apparatus shown in Fig. 5, the posts I3 extend upwardly above the spring trough plate members I5 and usual anchored cable barrier means are provided in association with the posts above the plate members I5.

I claim:

l. Guard apparatus for highways and the like, including a foundation at one side of the highway, a plurality of longitudinally spaced post members carried by the foundation, each post member extending upwardly above the foundation and above the upper surface of the highway, A

an elongated formed plate member extending longitudinally across some of the post members and at one side thereof, the elongated member including' a central longitudinally extending at portion, and longitudinally extending transversely curved ribs, one rib at each side of the flat portion, and means securing the elongated formed member to some of the post members, the ribs each protruding from the plane of the flat portion towards the highway, and the ribs being spaced from each other and from the highway surface so as to accommodate therebetween the hub of a vehicle wheel and so as to permit impinging of the tire of a vehicle wheel at opposite sides of the wheel axle, and the outer longitudinal edges of the ribs defining the outer longitudinal edges of the particular plate member.

2. Guard apparatus for highways and the like, including a foundation at one side of the highway, a plurality of longitudinally spaced post members carried by the foundation, each post member extending upwardly above the foundation and above the upper surface of the highway, an elongated formed spring metal plate member extending longitudinally across some of the post members and at one side thereof, the elongated member including a central longitudinally extending fiat portion, and longitudinally extending transversely curved ribs, one rib at each side of the flat portion, and means securing the elongated formed member to some of the post members, the ribs each protruding from the plane of the flat portion towards the highway, and the ribs being spaced from each other and from the highway surface so as to accommodate therebetween the hub of a vehicle wheel and so as to permit impinging of the tire of a vehicle wheel at opposite sides of the wheel axle, and the outer longitudinal edges of the ribs defining the outer longitudinal edges of the particular plate member.

3. Guard apparatus for highways and the like, including a foundation at one side of the high- Way, a plurality of longitudinally spaced post members carried by the foundation, each post member extending upwardly above the foundation and above the upper surface of the highway, an elongated formed plate member extending longitudinally across some of the post inembers and at one side thereof, the elongated member including a central longitudinally extending at portion, and longitudinally extending transversely curved ribs, one rib at each side of the at portion, some of the members having slots formed therein, and the others of the members having bolt shank openings formed therein, and bolt means extending through the bolt shank openings and the slots and securing the elongated formed member to some of the post members, the ribs each protruding from the plane of the flat portion towards the highway, and the ribs being spaced from each other and from the highway surface so as to accommodate therebetween the hub of a vehicle wheel and so as to permit impinging of the tire of a vehicle Wheel at opposite sides of the wheel axle, and the outer longitudinal edges of the ribs dei'ining the outer longitudinal edges of the particular plate member.

4. Guard apparatus for highways and the like, including a foundation at one side of the highway, a plurality of longitudinally sp-aced post members carried by the foundation, each post member extending upwardly above the foundation and above the upper surface of the highway, 9

an elongated formed spring metal plate member extending longitudinally across some of the post members and at one side thereof, the elongated member including a central longitudinally extending ilat portion, and longitudinally extending transversely curved ribs, one rib at each side of the at portion, some of the members having slots formed therein, and the others of the members having bolt shank openings formed therein, and bolt means. extending through the bolt shank openings and the slots and securing the elongated formed member to some of the post members, the ribs each protruding from the plane of the flat portion towards the highway, and the ribs being spaced from each other and from the highway surface so as to accommodate therebetween the hub of a vehicle wheel and so as to permit impinging of the tire of a vehicle wheel at opposite sides of the wheel axle, and the outer longitudinal edges of the ribs defining the outer longitudinal edges of the particular plate member.

HARRY J. HICK. 

